LAURA ELLENBERGER
(b. 1963)

Laura Ellenberger is a visual artist practicing in Sydney and London, where she has a studio. She actively exhibits in both cities.

The constant underlying theme in her work is absence and presence. She explores this using photography and drawing. Through the use of light-sensitive photographic film and paper, Ellenberger is able to trace movement through time, enabling us to see what is usually hidden. She sets up lens and pinhole cameras for various lengths of time, ranging from 15 minutes to three and six months, recording movement through time. Her drawings are veiled, partially obscuring what is below the surface. She uses various mediums and a wax window which creates a skin-like texture, unifying what is above and below the surface, making the eye flutter between the two, a reminder that absence and presence co-exist.

In the 80s she was a documentary photographer in the Apartheid era in South Africa. Her work was published in books and in monthly publications globally during this period.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022
Winter 2022|23, Everard Read, London, UK

2021
Winter 2021|22, Everard Read, London, UK

2018
Winter, Everard Read, London, UK

1985
The Other Side of Midnight, Ivan Solomon Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa

1985
The Other Side of Midnight, The Market Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019
Skin of the Print, OxMarket Gallery, Chichester, UK
Obsolete and Discontinued, Naples, Italy
Revela T Festival, Barcelona, Spain

2018
Summer, Everard Read, London, UK
Obsolete and Discontinued, London, UK
Winter, Everard Read London, UK

2017
Under $1000, .MContemporary Gallery, Sydney, Australia

2016
Breath, Everard Read, London, UK
Obsolete and Discontinued, Cologne, Germany,
Three Women Photographers, The Fitzrovia Gallery, London, UK
A Film in One Frame, Messum's, Cork Street, London, UK
Obsolete and Discontinued, Revela-T, Spain
LAPC Pinhole Festival Exhibition, Doomed Gallery, London, UK
.MContemporary Gallery, Sydney, Australia

2015
Considered, .MContemporary Gallery, Sydney, Australia
A Blue Show, The Fitzrovia Gallery, London
Mythology of my Land, .MContemporary Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Memories in Motion, .MContemporary Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Finalist in The Fisher’s Ghost Campbelltown Art Prize, Australia

2012
Nominated one of six artists for a group show “Best of Honours 2011” ATVP Sydney curated by Peter Johnson

2010
Group drawing show, Hill End, Australia
Drawing, Stairwell Gallery NAS, Australia
Group Show, building 25 NAS, Australia
Bronze casting, The Stairwell Gallery NAS, Sydney, Australia
Landscape exhibition, building 25 NAS, Sydney, Australia

2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Artists of Mosman, Sydney, Australia

2006, 2007
Mosman Festival, Mosman Art Gallery, Sydney, Australia

2006
Finalist Mosman Art Prize, Sydney, Australia

2005
Painting Awards, The Mall Galleries, London, UK

1989
finalist for SAPPI Awards for a published body of work – Photography

1985-1989
numerous (10), ILFORD Photographic awards

1984
Ivan Solomon Gallery solo exhibition award for outstanding student

RESIDENCIES
2017
Recipient of the Hill End Residency through the Bathurst Regional Gallery, NSW, Australia

COLLECTIONS
Bathurst Regional Gallery, NSW
Works are in private collections in Australia, New Zealand, Italy and South Africa

AWARDS
Ivan Solomon Gallery solo exhibition award for outstanding student Solo Exhibitions

EDUCATION
2008-2011
BFA Honours (painting/drawing) National Art School, Sydney, Australia 1982-1986 Higher Diploma in Photography, Pretoria, South Africa